Posted: Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 12:58 PM | 34 comments |
 

Ibanez out of lineup, but healthy
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Raul Ibanez is not hurt.

“I’m not hurt,” said Raul Ibanez, testily.

“He’s not hurt,” said manager Charlie Manuel, affably.

He’s making sure Ibanez stays that way.

When a recently injured, 36-year-old, lefthanded hitter who leads the team in homers and slugging percentage is out of the lineup against a righthanded pitcher, well, the question is worth asking.

Manuel explained that the Phillies held Ibanez out today because Tuesday’s game went 13 innings. Ibanez missed 3 weeks with a left groin strain. He has been back in the lineup for less than 2 weeks.

Ibanez played all 13 innings in Tuesday night’s win over the Cubs. He had a long, awkward run to his right early in the game. He then dived to make a catch late in the game. So, yes, there might have been something achy or tweaked or balky yesterday morning.

“There isn’t,” Manuel said. “This is just a good day to give him off.”

Manuel told Ibanez on Tuesday night he probably wouldn’t play him today, despite the Phillies’ facing Carlos Zambrano (whom Ibanez never has faced).

This morning, Ibanez went into Manuel’s office and said he wanted to start. Manuel appreciated the eagerness.

“We’ll turn him loose full-speed in a couple of weeks,” Manuel said.
 
Posted by Marcus Hayes @ 12:58 PM  Permalink | 34 comments
34
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:13 PM, 07/22/2009
    good. smart decision, i like it. we are not going to win every game the rest of the year, there's zero point in burning the team out trying to do so.
    — Matt M.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:15 PM, 07/22/2009
    He's 37
    — mooney
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:25 PM, 07/22/2009
    so what your telling me is that he is not hurt?
    — 4u2digest
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:51 PM, 07/22/2009
    Utley also needs a rest. 0 fo 6- swinging at balls & taking strikes.
    — delennis
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:07 PM, 07/22/2009
    Utley is getting into one of his funks. He needs to sit for a game.
    — RichNC
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:12 PM, 07/22/2009
    What happened to the Live Chat?
    — terb
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:27 PM, 07/22/2009
    I really want to see Ibanez healthy and RESTED for when he is sorely needed down the stretch. (No pun intended......really.)
    — TBear
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:29 PM, 07/22/2009
    Just don't play Buntlette in LF today.
    — jman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:43 PM, 07/22/2009
    Just don't play Bruntlette. Period.
    — ACBaughman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:16 PM, 07/22/2009
    Durbin should be out of the lineup... What a stiff..
    — gallen024
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:37 PM, 07/22/2009
    Fellow Bruntlett Bashers.....lets not forget WHY he is on the Phillies' roster.....for his versatility, not his hitting. And....if you believe in percentages, the fact he's hitting 100 points below his career average, he should have a much more productive second half.
    — dri_as_a_bone
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:41 PM, 07/22/2009
    I hope Utley is only in a funk and not hurt...we know how he always plays hurt, even if it affects his play.
    — BJG83
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:44 PM, 07/22/2009
    I am watching through a live box score, so I may not understand something. But did the Phils just have a chance to use Ibanez as a pinch hitter vs. a righty and then move Dobbs to 3B and let Ibanez stay in at LF?
    — eagyop


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About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times. E-mail Dave at dmurphy@phillynews.com.

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